Encinitas, California
Seriously. I took this morning with my iPhone. It’s kind of silly how pretty it is here.
I never get sick of where I live.
Category Archives: Encinitas, California
blondegirlinyogaclothes#1 @ Whole Foods via Sofia’s perspective.
Holy God, I have been on my computer writing so much this week that about 3 hours ago I promised myself I would hang out with actual real-life humans and stay off the computer for at least 24 hours … BUT, I just got home and received a message from my friend Sofia (you may remember her from A Book on Luv by the wisest 18 year old I know) with a link to her new blog (that she just decided to create tonight), and since I laughed out loud 5x while I was reading it, I had to share it immediately.
I’m cliche and I made a blog, SICK.
By Sofia Barnard via dayinthelifeofsofiabarnard.wordpress.com
I honestly have no idea why I have just created this blog. Maybe its because I’m not taking an english class this semester and feel like writing, maybe its because my friend Traci published my psychology paper on her blog and people liked it … maybe its to see if people will care about what I think … maybe its just because I am bored. Who knows? … and who cares?
I have learned to no longer question why things happen in life, or why we choose to act certain ways. Not that I live life without regrets; that would be narcissistic and flat out unrealistic to pretend you live life without any regrets.
I think its really interesting how people are picking up this new mentality of contentment. Not because I think people should not be happy all the time, but, because after a while it gets fake, its too forced. Seriously, you’re ALWAYS happy? EW … HELLO PEOPLE DO YOU NOT HAVE EMOTIONS? … IS THERE ANYONE IN THERE?
I was at Whole Foods today and heard this conversation:
blondegirlinyogaclothes#1- “how are you?”
blondegirlinyogaclothesnumber#2- “my boyfriend broke up with me.”
blondegirlinyogaclothes#1-”Oh wow… jeez, I’m sorrry girl”
blondegirlinyogaclothes#2-”oh it’s alright, I’m so grateful that it happened, for some reason it happened I just dont know why yet.”
I wanted to interject- really?! Wow, you must have never even noticed the dude, he must have gotten over the fact that you’re too robotic … YOUR SUPPOSED TO BE AN EMOTIONAL PMS-ING BITCH!
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
I do love living here in Encinitas … its beautiful, great surf, beaches and people. But sometimes I worry that the people are to fake, and too suppressed, and too stoned to be real … maybe it’s a controlled society from a sci-fi book and I’m stuck in it.
Also by Sofia: blondegirlinyogaclothes#1 @ Whole Foods via Sofia’s perspective via dayinthelifeofsofiabarnard.wordpress.com.
Yogi, musician, inspiration* … Introducing Tracey.
I almost fell over three times in yoga class yesterday. It’s not because I am new to yoga, (I am actually a few weeks away from completing my Yoga Teacher Training) no, it’s because I have been going to yoga every day for the past 20 or so days and to be honest, I think my body was pissed off at me.
It’s funny when that happens (some days, it’s just not happening) … in fact I did laugh at myself, and finally just laid down after I almost knocked over the girl next to me (sorry, by the way, if happened to be standing next to me yesterday) … Today’s another day, right!
Besides the pending certification (& because I love it), another reason why I have been going to yoga so much is because my roommate Tracey, just happens to be one of the owners of the studio I practice at/getting certified through (Yoga Tropics, which she owns along with her lovely family).
Tracey would never give me grief about not practicing (in fact, she is one of the mellowest, coolest & supportive people I know), but simply being around her just inspires you to be better … to practice. (not only in yoga, but generally in life).
In Encinitas, California, where I live, in our little four mile radius, we are known for … surfing, Self Realization, gluten-free living, and yoga.
With that being said, if you live here, chances are you do yoga (actually, I don’t think you are allowed to live here if you don’t) … and if you do, chances are you know Tracey, the yogi.
Introducing Tracey, the musician.
About Tracey: Tracey is a student, a yoga teacher, friend to mostly everyone in Encinitas, a volunteer, a musician … and so many other things. Tracey began her love of movement skiing in the Swiss Alps. An active and competitive athlete, she took her first yoga class at the age of 14 and never turned back. Finding a natural grace and ease on her mat and loving the sense of fluid power, Tracey has maintained a regular practice ever since. She has trained with John Friend in Anusara, Prana Flow and Radiant Heart/Wisdom of the Heart Brain with Shiva Rea, Hot Hatha Yoga with Bikram Choudhury, Ashtanga with Tim Miller, David Swenson, Vinnie Marino, Dharma Yoga with Kristyan Stjerne and many other notable instructors. Recently Tracey completed the Ashtanga Primary Series Teacher Training with Tim Miller in Encinitas. She continues to cultivate her practice in several styles and shares her passion for yoga with her students every day. As a practitioner Tracey is an inspiration – as a teacher, she is intuitive and compassionate, calming and encouraging and shares her enthusiasm in every class. When Tracey is not on her mat, you can find her singing in one of the local venues around San Diego.
*Tracey also happens to be the “unofficial editor” of this blog.
How to Be Comfortable Being Comfortable
It’s officially been three months since I have been back living in the U.S. and just like the magical first three months of living abroad is often called the “honeymoon period” for expats (followed by a severe case of Culture Shock for the next few months which starts on the day you realize you can’t find your return trip ticket home) … I can also say that my honeymoon period back in the U.S. seems to be coming to an end … but this time, ironically, it started on the day (which happened to be Monday) that I realized I DON’T have a ticket back to some foreign land.
Obviously, I had my eyes (abruptly) opened to many new things over the past (almost) two years … met amazing people … learned about things I never knew existed … learned about things I never knew existed in myself … most days have been an adventure, and all I had to do was wake up in the morning and step outside the door of wherever I was. Yes, it took some time to feel comfortable perpetually living outside of my comfort zone, but now I realize, that may have become my favorite place to live.
When I first got home to California, I was seriously overwhelmed by the beauty, was ultra aware of my surroundings and impressed by the organization of it all. I mean, it’s simply a breathtaking place to experience everyday, and in contrast to where I was living, it was difficult to wrap my head around the fact that Delhi & Encinitas were on the same planet. Ecstatic to be here, yes! … but definitely not comfortable.
So Monday morning something happened. I felt a feeling that I haven’t in a long time … comfort … not in an ungrateful way, but in an “o.k. I haven’t felt THIS in a long time” kind of way, which was followed by “what’s next!?”.
After much thought on this subject, I have decided to resist my urge to jump on a plane (at least not today), embrace the fact that I do have the ability to create my own adventures that cause a little welcomed discomfort every now and then (since I can’t count on Mother India to help me out in that area here) and continue to re-learn & appreciate how to be comfortable being comfortable … this may be one of my biggest challenges yet!
Yoga in Encinitas
Check out this cool video on the history of Yoga in Encinitas! It really is a magical place and I am so happy to call it home.
The Story of Yoga in Encinitas, by John Friend and Anusara yoga (via Youtube)
“So, how do you think you will feel when you are going back on the plane to India?”
… One of my old friends asked me this question when I was recently in the U.S. (on a very last-minute random quick trip to California) … Good question! To be completely honest, I have felt so many emotions that I have never felt before during this almost 12 months (since the birth of the initial India idea) and most of the time I have had no idea how I would feel until I was in the moment. Which is actually a very cool thing (except those moments when I was sobbing on my floor … “oh, this is what it feels like to leave everything and everyone that you have ever known.” This kinda sucks. Lol.) My trip was such an amazingly replenishing experience. Spending time with friends that know you does wonders for your soul… and although I don’t have many material possessions these days (which I love not having), it really made me so happy to have a shopping spree at Lulu Lemon & Anthropologie. Funny, I really was dreaming about going to Target, but the convenience of it all was too overwhelming I had to get the hell out of there. How weird that everything you need would be in one place … didn’t seem real … Too bright, clean and convenient. Too much to deal with. How can anything be so organized?!
All my U.S. friends here told me I would have reverse culture shock when I got back. (This is a real thing by the way). It takes a lot for your mind to get around seeing the picture above on the right on Thursday morning and the one on the left on Thursday night (even though it’s 24+ hours later). Trippy. Especially since you feel like you have been (and have been) living sooooo- far away for what seems like years and now you are back and everything is almost exactly the same. It literally took me a full three days to get out of that “I feel like I am in a movie” stage. After those three days I really started to settle in, but not long enough to feel too comfortable and not want to go back.
The day I was to travel back to India a bunch of my friends from Encinitas were all traveling that day (or within a few days)…Amber & Jardine off to Paris/London/Spain, Amy off to Uganda and India. Oh, no big deal, and I am just going back to India. Totally normal! Lol.
So, to answer the question, how did I feel on the plane back to India? … I seriously wouldn’t have wanted to be on a plane to go to any other place right now… and that is a very cool place to be. (who knows what the next few week’s emotions will bring as the monsoon’s continue, the roads are un-driveable and the Commonwealth Games start… we’ll just have to see!)
"All she talks about is India!"
I am moving in less than a week and I haven’t been able to quite get my head around that yet. I think I have been talking about this move so much that I am just ready to get there (historically I do not do well in limbo; i.e. the time between when you give your two weeks notice and your actual last day or the time between when you break up and when you really break up). I just don’t want to be the girl that only talks about India…that could get annoying… “whoops, too late” my friends say to themselves as they read this.
Seriously though, this past two months have been such an amazing learning experience, about myself, about my friends, about how judgmental and about how open and supportive people can be. When you do anything that is a little bit different than what everyone else does, it’s so interesting the reactions you get from people (even when you don’t ask!). I am just so very thankful to have such amazing, supportive and open-minded friends/family that have asked the right questions of me but have been so incredibly supportive of this move. My advice to anyone that is thinking about doing something different with your life (for however long), just do what feels right to you. Believe me, it’s difficult and slightly scary (o.k. a lot scary), but it does feel really good!
… So, tonight I will listen to the waves from my room and enjoy every second of it and know that although I am so excited about all of this, in about three weeks from now I will remember the comfort I am feeling right now at this moment, and the sound of the waves and cry … and then laugh and think, “how the hell am I in India!?”
Swamis, Encinitas
101, Encinitas
